Skill enhanced electronic redemption pinball machine

ABSTRACT

The program, in conjunction with physical modifications to the pinball game, was developed to modify the subject machine to accept US Dollars, with coin acceptance also being possible. A series of timed dollar bill validator or coin mechanism pulses transfers inserted money amounts to a microprocessor that stores the pulses in memory. The program accesses the memory and displays the pulses as “Paid Credits”, a new category. Pulses can be configured to any monetary pulse combination desired, with the most common configuration being $1.00 equal to 20 credits, with each credit having a value of $0.05. The programming, containing two (2) options for the machine operator, permits the owner of the machine to select either (a) the separation of credits that are won from credits that are paid for or (b) the combining the credits that are won along with credits that are paid for in jurisdiction in which the same is legally permissible.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] NOT APPLICABLE.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSOREDRESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] NOT APPLICABLE.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0003] NO APPENDIX NECESSARY.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention pertains to the field of computer programmingcontained within existing electronic redemption pinball machines Theinventor encountered difficulties in several jurisdictions regarding thelegality of operating electronic redemption pinball machines in whichthe credits “won” by the successful play of the machine are commingledwith the credit received when money was deposited into the machine (the“paid” credits). In certain jurisdictions, it is legally preferable tohave the “won” credits and “paid” credits separated into distinctclassifications so as to not be classified as “free replays”, which, insome jurisdictions, may be illegal to operate.

[0005] Additionally, the inventors, wanting to increase the skill of thegame and/or the player's control over the operation of the game, deviseda system to utilize an electronic flipper in which the player has thedetermination as to the pattern of the balls in play.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention modifies the electronic redemption pinball machineto separate the “won” credits and “paid” credits into distinctcategories, thereby eliminating the “free replay” feature concernsencountered by the inventors in certain jurisdictions. The inventorsalso enhanced the skill of the game with the installation andcoordination of the electronic flipper to enhance the player's controlover the outcome of the game, thereby opening the game to newjurisdictions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] No drawings are necessary.

[0008] The following concepts are incorporated in an existing electronicpinball game in order to add new skill features and enhance existingfeatures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The Program

[0009] The program, in conjunction with physical modifications to thepinball game, was developed to modify the subject machine to accept USDollars, with coin acceptance also being possible. A series of timeddollar bill validator or coin mechanism pulses transfers inserted moneyamounts to a microprocessor that stores the pulses in memory. Theprogram accesses the memory and displays the pulses as “Paid Credits”, anew category. Pulses can be configured to any monetary pulse combinationdesired, with the most common configuration being $1.00 equal to 20credits, with each credit having a value of $0.05.

[0010] In the first version of the program the play of the machine mayonly be initiated by using “paid credits”. Another category, labeled“won credits”, was also established to account for any credits won bythe player through the play of the machine. Through this process, thereis a strict accounting of credits paid and won by the player and limitsare placed on what the player can do with each amount. If insufficient“paid credits” remain to begin play, more money must be inserted tobegin play, even if sufficient “won credits” are available. “Woncredits” must be used to play additional balls within a game prior tobeing able to use any “paid credits” for this purpose. Remaining “woncredits” are electronically transferred to a ticket dispenser or printerat the player's option when play is complete.

[0011] The second version of the program works as described above, butcombines both “paid credits” and “won credits” into a new categorylabeled “credits”. This allows the Machine to start a new game ifsufficient “credits” remain, regardless of whether such credits are paidfor or have been won. The player has the option of electronicallytransferring the “credits” to the ticket dispenser or printer when playis complete.

The Machine

[0012] The machine has been adapted to accommodate electro mechanicalflippers that players may use to alter the course of the balls on theplayfield of the game. The flipper is mounted in the existing playfieldof the machine and powered by a separate power supply, with theengagement button being installed at the upper, front, right side of thebody of the machine. Additionally, the cabinet of the machine has beenaltered to include a metal cabinet, mounted to the front of the floor ofthe machine, next to the machines main door, to house the dollar billacceptor as well as the printer or ticket dispenser, which have bothbeen wired into the machine's hardware.

The Display

[0013] The “back glass” of the machine has been altered to reflect thetwo (2) versions of the Program, with the first version having “paidcredits” and “won credits” while the second version has only “credits”.

1. What we claim as our invention is the alteration to the electronicredemption pinball machine, separating credits that are won from creditthat are paid for.
 2. What we claim as our invention is the alterationto the electronic redemption pinball machine in which the program of themachine permits the owner of the machine to select either (a) theseparation of credits that are won from credits that are paid for or (b)the combining the credits that are won along with credits that are paidfor in jurisdiction in which the same is legally permissible.
 3. What weclaim as our invention is the alteration to the electronic redemptionpinball machine in which the program of the machine permits the owner ofthe machine to select either (a) the separation of credits that are wonfrom credits that are paid for or (b) the combining the credits that arewon along with credits that are paid for in jurisdiction in which thesame is legally permissible, along with the installation andcoordination of the program to accommodate an electronic flipperassembly to enhance skill, and including the installation of afabricated metal security box containing a dollar bill validator andelectronic printer.